December 2008

In our inaugural issue we introduced you to Joe Connor, who has been driving a 1984 Mercedes running on vegetable oil the past few seasons to sporting events, including college football tailgating spots, raising awareness of renewable energy while having one heck of a time! In our first issue, he presented his best experiences from his visits to the Southeastern Conference a year ago (this year Joe has been visiting PAC-10 and Big 12 schools, lucky guy!). Here’s some of his favorites from his trip to Atlantic Coast Conference tailgates from a year ago (Joe plans to do a 2009 tour to see the ACC and SEC here’s yet to see, did we mention he’s a lucky guy?).

 

Except for football Saturday’s, you can practically walk through sleepy and truly small town Clemson, South Carolina, population 16,000, its history tied almost totally to the university. But it’s on football Saturday’s, that this place goes from sleepy Southern town to all-out party central, becoming the Palmetto State’s third largest city within a short period of time. But it was actually a Monday – Labor Day, a year ago – that I visited one of the prettiest campuses in the ACC for a season-opening showdown pitting father against son. And one of the craziest tailgate parties. Everyone seemed to be decked in orange, including the lovely ladies and me and my buddy had no problem finding lots of free grub and loads of fun. Can you say Southern hospitality? Of course, just like southerners like Bobby Bowden and Tommy Bowden would expect.

 

But what we particularly enjoyed was the actual build up to kickoff, from bouncing from tailgate to tailgate to how this gorgeous campus is almost laid out perfectly for a football game. And the people, man, so many people! Maybe it was because of the 8 p.m. kickoff on national television, coupled with the fact this was the season opener, but the atmosphere was electric as the band and cheerleaders marched into the stadium before the football team later got off the bus and roared into Memorial Stadium, aka Death Valley. My friend and I didn’t have any expectations of Clemson, but we left pleasantly surprised. And the Tigers upset Florida State in the Bowden Bowl with fans storming the field. It was a pretty sweet sight!

 

 

Speaking of pleasantly surprised, I also really enjoyed my visit to Blacksburg, home of Virginia Tech. During my baseball tour in 2006, I had visited Blacksburg and checked out the small sports museum inside the athletic department. I also saw the stadium and the rest of the beautiful campus and concluded quickly: I’ll be back. I arrived here mid-morning for a noon kickoff last Sept. 29 and the tailgating scene was plentiful, as mountains were visible in the distance and kids played catch. My favorite spot was on the south side of the stadium, on a small hilltop offering a view below of all the revelry, plus close proximity to the band route into the stadium. The Hokies held off North Carolina for the win.

 

 

The Hurricanes have a new home in 2008 – the home of the NFL Dolphins. But last year, I was fortunate to catch the last ever Hurricanes night game at “The OB” before it was demolished this past winter in Little Havana to make room as the future home of the baseball Marlins. There was a pretty strong tailgating scene in the lots adjacent to the stadium, but it was pretty small, especially given it was a week night. The Orange Bowl had been the home of “The U” since1937, and this was old, old place. So much so I felt the stadium literally rocking in anticipation of the kickoff! The ‘Canes had won 53 straight at home, an NCAA record. They made it 54, clobbering visiting Texas A&M.

 

I remember seeing one of my first Jimmy Buffett concerts years ago at Bobby Dodd Stadium during my crash pad days in Florida, but I also remember we also got loaded (and thrown out off) bars all over town because there are very few places to tailgate, as the Yellow Jackets campus is located downtown. So where did I go? Try the frat house, which only reminded me that one of these days I really do need to grow up! Georgia Tech creamed Samford.

 

One of the prettiest college towns in the fruited plain I’ve ever visited is Charlottesville, southern gateway to equally stunning Shenandoah National Park. And the Cavaliers have one of the best bands. But the tailgating? Ah, it’s okay, nothing special. I arrived in Charlottesville the same day I caught the Hokies. The Cavs were hosting Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. kickoff, but when I arrived a few hours before the game, there was very little buzz but a whole lot of car traffic of folks only going to the game (and not tailgating). Fortunately, I caught up with a bunch of crazy Cavaliers alumni, who fed me some food and drinks. God, I love my job. Virginia ended up pounding the pitiful Panthers, and the Cavaliers marching band is awesome – one of the best and most underrated in college football, almost worth the price of admission itself.

 

 

Having grown up Catholic in Connecticut when the University of Connecticut didn’t even have a football program, the nearest college team to root in football with any national prominence was Boston College, a Jesuit school that many of my cousins had attended (and if I wasn’t such a juvenile delinquent in high school, maybe me, too). The tailgating continues to be pretty tame, with lots of restrictions, too – boo!

 

This season, I hit PAC-10 and Big 12, but corporate-sponsor willing I’ll see the remaining six schools in the ACC I’ve yet to see – in 2009! I’ve heard North Carolina, Florida State and Maryland are particular awesome tailgates. Hey, it’s a tough job, this vegetable oil driving gig and somebody’s got to do it. Why not me?